# How High-Altitude Parafoils Use Spring-Loaded Rods to Open Automatically > A system for high-altitude balloons that uses flexible, spring-loaded rods to force a parachute-like wing to snap open in the thin air of the upper atmosphere. - **Patent:** US 11608181 - **Original title:** Rigidized assisted opening system for high altitude parafoils - **Owner:** World View Enterprises Inc - **Granted:** 2023 - **Status:** Active - **Times cited:** 4 - **Field:** aerospace, mechanical ## What it does This patent describes a mechanical assist system for opening parafoils at extremely high altitudes where the air is too thin for traditional ram-air inflation to work reliably. It uses two elongated wing tip supports that are hinged to a base structure. When the parafoil is packed into a bag, these supports are bent, storing potential energy like a spring. Once the restraint is released, the supports snap back to their original shape, physically pushing the canopy open so it can catch the sparse air and begin flight. ## What it does NOT cover - Does not cover parafoils that rely solely on ram-air pressure for inflation without mechanical assistance. - Does not cover non-hinged or non-flexible structural support systems. - Does not cover deployment systems that use pyrotechnic charges or explosive bolts to force canopy opening. ## The clever bit It treats the wing support structure itself as a spring, using the energy stored during the packing process to perform the work of opening the canopy, rather than relying on external power sources or airflow. ## Real-world examples 1. High-altitude balloon payload recovery systems 2. Near-space research vehicle descent systems ## Why it matters Operating at the edge of space is difficult because air density is so low that traditional parachutes often fail to inflate. This technology is critical for companies like World View Enterprises that aim to return payloads from high-altitude balloons safely to Earth without needing complex or heavy active-inflation hardware. ## Frequently asked questions ### What does How High-Altitude Parafoils Use Spring-Loaded Rods to Open Automatically cover? A system for high-altitude balloons that uses flexible, spring-loaded rods to force a parachute-like wing to snap open in the thin air of the upper atmosphere. ### Who owns patent US 11608181? World View Enterprises Inc owns this patent, granted in 2023. ### When does this patent expire? This patent is expected to expire on March 21, 2043, when the invention enters the public domain. ### What is patent US 11608181 cited by? This patent has been cited by 4 later patents that build on its ideas. ### What problem does this patent solve? Operating at the edge of space is difficult because air density is so low that traditional parachutes often fail to inflate. This technology is critical for companies like World View Enterprises that aim to return payloads from high-altitude balloons safely to Earth without needing complex or heavy active-inflation hardware. ### What does this patent NOT cover? Does not cover parafoils that rely solely on ram-air pressure for inflation without mechanical assistance. **Full plain-English explainer:** https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/11608181/starship-orbital-launch-mount **Original patent:** https://patents.google.com/patent/US11608181 --- _Source: PatentBrief — https://patentbrief.org. Patent facts are from public records; the plain-English explanation is PatentBrief's._ ## Related patents Semantically similar inventions in the PatentBrief corpus: - [How the Rogallo Flexible Wing Kite Works](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/2546078/rogallo-wing-hang-glider) — A 1948 patent for a kite with a flexible, non-rigid wing that uses air pressure to maintain its shape during flight. - [How Multiple Space Projectiles Can Assemble Themselves In Mid-Air](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/11724824/starlink-v2-satellite) — A system that launches several projectiles into the sky simultaneously and uses onboard controls to have them connect or transfer fuel while flying. - [How Rocket Rings Help Boosters Land Safely](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/10266282/crew-dragon-launch-escape-system) — Blue Origin's patent for a ring-shaped structure on a rocket that helps control airflow during descent and assists in separating rocket stages. - [How Rocket Lab Secures Satellites Inside Their Launch Dispensers](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/11059609/starlink-inter-satellite-laser-links) — A mechanical system that allows engineers to tighten and secure a satellite inside a launch container from the outside after the door is already closed. - [How Solar Sails Use Moving Vanes to Steer in Space](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/11905044/starlink-rv-roaming) — A solar sail design that uses multiple independently moving reflective vanes made of shape-memory materials to steer spacecraft using only the pressure of sunlight.